Sunday, September 17, 2000
The
Associated Press
ELIZABETH -- A Clifton man who has used a Web site to criticize the
franchise practices of a coffee and bagel chain will be allowed to keep the
site going for at least another month.
A state Superior Court judge in Elizabeth on Friday rejected a request by
Eatontown-based New World Coffee/Manhattan Bagel to immediately shut down the
site where Michael Abrams has published his criticisms.
The case stems from the company's dispute with franchisees over closed or
money-losing stores.
Abrams' wife, Lidia, was a franchisee, and Abrams contends he is an Internet
journalist, publishing commentary from franchise holders on how New World/
Manhattan Bagel does business.
The company argued the Web site only seeks to disparage, defame, and libel the company's executives.